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Chapter 57: Hiruzen's Counterattack
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was now expressionless.
It exuded a dangerous aura that slowly encroached upon the arena. Everyone involuntarily slowed their breathing, staring silently at the old man who had just been hit hard and should have been injured.
Normally, when people get injured, they only get weaker. Why did this old man seem to be the opposite?
He appeared to have become far more dangerous.
On the Marineford plaza, the Vice Admirals were bewildered. Why did the old man on the other side seem stronger the more he got hurt?
This question reached the ears of Sengoku and Garp.
Facing this issue, perhaps even the three Admirals wouldn't quite understand why, but the two veterans understood it deeply.
Garp looked at Hiruzen, seemingly resonating with him through the screen.
"Stronger the more he's injured?"
"How could such a thing happen? That man didn't become stronger; he simply regained a portion of his former strength!"
Hearing Garp's words, the Vice Admirals looked puzzled.
Sengoku laughed and said, "It seems that man hasn't fought seriously in a long time. For a while, he couldn't adapt to Yuichi's rhythm and was easily suppressed."
"Although he was injured by Yuichi, the pain forced this man, who had been dormant for so long, to regain the sensation of battle!"
"The opponent is the teacher of the previous three winners. How could he possess only that much power?"
On the field.
Yuichi also felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi's momentum had intensified. Indeed, he gave off a dangerous vibe.
But so what?
What mattered was that Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him a few more Ninjutsu so he could successfully complete his mission.
Shunpo!
Activating Flash Step, Yuichi's figure vanished again.
But this time, a sharp light flashed in Hiruzen's eyes.
This time... the old man can see clearly!
The Adamantine Staff in his hand trembled slightly. Veins popped out on Hiruzen's arms as he swung the staff toward Yuichi, who was approaching at high speed.
Clang—
Buzz, buzz...
The sound of sword and staff colliding erupted. Invisible fluctuations spread, forming shocking ripples. Instantly, the surrounding ground shattered.
Yuichi held Senbonzakura with one hand, his eyes flickering slightly as he looked at Hiruzen, who had blocked his strike.
His movements were getting faster!
He could actually keep up with the speed of Shunpo...
"Lord Third... caught up with that guy's speed..."
"Why was he suddenly... able to keep up?"
"Before..."
Tsunade smiled. "Didn't we say? That old man was looking for the feeling of battle! After all, he is the God of Shinobi. How could he just be beaten by the enemy continuously?"
"Is Lord Third going to start fighting back?"
Boom!
The Adamantine Staff knocked Yuichi back.
He retreated!
The people of the Pirate World stared wide-eyed as they watched Yuichi step back. They were surprised to see Hiruzen Sarutobi, who should have been injured and weakened, block Yuichi's attack and force him back.
This old man was like an awakening lion.
"Now the old man is going to fight back. Young man, are you ready?"
Hearing this, Yuichi stabilized his stance. He raised his hand and patted the cloak that had flared up.
"Just blocking one sword counts as a counterattack?"
"Hehe! Then fight back and show me!"
Seeing that Yuichi didn't care in the slightest, Hiruzen showed no anger.
Looking down on an old man is a mistake you will suffer for, young man...
Thud!
He jammed the Adamantine Staff straight into the floor beside him. Hiruzen raised his hands to weave signs.
Seeing the hand seals, Yuichi smiled slightly.
Shunpo.
A breeze blew, and in the blink of an eye, Yuichi pointed his sword straight at Hiruzen's throat. The sharp blade cut through the void, accompanied by the shrill sound of breaking wind. The gloomy light of the blade struck directly toward Hiruzen's neck.
The moment he was about to make contact, Hiruzen suddenly opened his mouth and roared, "Earth Style!"
Suddenly, a flow of mud erupted from under Yuichi's feet, instantly carrying him far away. His body was entangled in the mud flow, stopping abruptly after rushing tens of meters.
And at this moment, the floor of the arena suddenly rose into the air.
"Tile Shuriken..."
Swish, swish, swish!
Pieces of the stone floor spun and quickly enveloped Yuichi.
Assaulting me with the floor?
If it weren't for the trace of Chakra covering the tiles, with Yuichi's strength, he could have just stood there and taken the hits without issue. But now, the levitating tiles shot toward him from all directions with extreme speed. With Chakra attached, they were genuinely dangerous.
Yuichi narrowed his eyes slightly.
His long fingers gripped the hilt tightly, and his arm instantly turned into countless afterimages as he waved Senbonzakura.
Dazzling sword light flared.
In the blink of an eye, countless tiles were easily chopped apart by Yuichi. Splintered stone splashed everywhere.
Clang—Clang!
A sharp slash erupted from Yuichi's hand. The sword light swept across toward Hiruzen like a storm.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
Boom, boom, boom!
A raised earthen wall blocked Yuichi's slash. A loud roar echoed.
In the next second, Yuichi's body suddenly appeared, smashed through the earthen wall, and slashed at Hiruzen behind it!
Hiruzen looked up at Yuichi in surprise.
The moment the blade fell, Yuichi's expression became strange.
The touch!
Something was wrong with the sensation coming from Senbonzakura...
Indeed. Facing a ninja, one must be extra careful the moment they lose track of the opponent!
Splatter!
In an intense battle where there was no time to react, when Yuichi's blade hit Hiruzen, the audience gasped.
But Hiruzen turned into a mass of mud in front of everyone.
At the same time, on the other side of the arena, Hiruzen's voice rang out.
"Adamantine Prison Wall..."
The Adamantine Staff inserted into the ground instantly multiplied. In the blink of an eye, a huge iron prison formed, trapping Yuichi inside.
Simultaneously, more than one Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared!
There were two.
They opened their mouths and took a deep breath at the same time.
"Fire Style!"
"Wind Style!"
"Compound Ninjutsu: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Wind fueled the fire! A terrifying hurricane mixed with the eruption of flames. The spreading aftermath caused the ground to ripple like water waves.
The heat distorted the light itself!
The fire dragon swallowed the newly formed cage in a single gulp!
═════ To Be Continued ═════
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